These incidents are included for your review. The NSW Resources Regulator does not endorse the findings or recommendations of these incidents. It is your legal duty to exercise due diligence to ensure the business complies with its work health and safety obligations.
International (fatal)
MSHA
Mine fatality
On 11 January 2022, a 32-year-old miner died while driving on a mine road when a tree fell from a highwall onto the cab of his pick-up truck. This was the third fatality reported in 2022 and the first classified as ‘falling, rolling or sliding rock or material of any kind’. Best practices include examining highwalls frequently and from as many perspectives as possible, and to train all workers to recognise hazardous highwall conditions.
Details
MSHA
Mine fatality
On 7 January 2022, a 35-year-old continuous mining machine operator was fatally injured when he was pinned between the remote-controlled miner and the coal rib. This was the second fatality reported in 2022, and the first classified as ‘machinery’. Best practices include operating equipment from a safe location, maintaining proximity detection systems in the approved operating condition and developing and implementing procedures for tramming, repositioning, cable handling and moving remote controlled miners safely.
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MSHA
Mine fatality
On 3 December 2021, a miner was fatally injured when he became entangled in the return idler on the belt conveyor under a portable crusher plant. This was the 33rd fatality reported in 2021, and the 16th classified as ‘powered haulage’. Best practices included removing power from the belt drive before performing maintenance and guarding moving machine parts to protect workers from making contact with moving parts.
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MSHA
Mine fatality
On 14 January 2022, a 44-year-old contract labourer with 13 years of total experience suffered fatal injuries when he fell to a concrete surface. At the time of the accident, the contractor was on a belt conveyor in a preparation plant and was working to replace a belt conveyor roller. This is the fourth fatality reported in 2022, and the first classified as ‘slip or fall of person’. Best practice includes establishing and following safety policies and procedures when working at heights.
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NZ MinEX
Fatal injury during hydraulic hose repair
The main hydraulic pressure hose failed on a wheeled loader, requiring replacement. Residual hydraulic pressure was released from the loader's lifting system to allow access to the main hose valve. The boom was then raised with assistance of a second machine allowing the grapple to flop to a natural position. It was then lowered and supported by the loader's grapple tine tips. The mechanic was working under the boom when it slumped unexpectedly, fatally pinning the mechanic.
Details
National (other, non-fatal)
WA Department of Mines, Industry, Regulation and Safety
Companies fined after workers exposed to asbestos
A multinational resources company and a mining services company will both pay after multiple employees came in contact with a carcinogen. Alcoa and Monadelphous Engineering Associates pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe work environment after two contractors became exposed to asbestos at the Pinjarra Refinery in Oakley, south of Perth. Mandurah Magistrates Court heard the pair were improperly trained in asbestos awareness before entering the work site, where they installed a 33 kilovolt power cable in 2018. The judge ruled Alcoa should pay $30,000 plus $5000 in litigation expenses, and Monadelphous $25,000 plus $6000 in costs, to the Western Australian Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.
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Resources Safety and Health Queensland
Managing the risks of storm season 2022
A mine site's emergency management plan (EMP) for storm events should include adequate resources, facilities and procedures that are available before, during, and after a storm. Ideally, storm-related management should be included in the safety and health management system, safety management system or safety and security management system (system relevant to your site). The EMP must be based on a risk assessment. There are check lists at the end of this bulletin that include items to consider when preparing for or recovering from storms.
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Resources Safety and Health Queensland
Incident periodical
Significant safety incidents have occurred recently at coal mines in Queensland. This information should be used to improve safety awareness and outcomes. This report includes an uncontrolled movement at a surface mine, worker being partially engulfed at a coal handling preparation plant, mechanical failure at a surface mine, heat stress at a surface mine, equipment rollover at surface mine, lifting and slinging incident and a microsleep incident at a surface mine.
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